By Hauwa Gwandu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have been dragged before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged substitution of the party’s candidate for the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency election.

The suit was filed by Hon. Tunde Pratt, who claims to have won the NDC primary election conducted to select its candidate for the constituency.

Pratt, through his counsel, Chief Ajose Abejoye, is asking the court to reverse what he described as the unlawful removal of his name and restore his alleged mandate as the party’s duly nominated candidate.

In the suit before Justice Aluko, the claimant alleged that the substitution of his name with that of Tunji Sanni was illegal and amounted to a fundamental breach of the Electoral Act.

Pratt is seeking a declaration that the alleged substitution is illegal, null and void, as well as an order directing INEC to immediately restore his name to the ballot as the NDC candidate for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Pratt claimed he emerged victorious at the NDC primary held on May 29, 2026, after securing the majority of votes cast by delegates.

He further alleged that the primary was conducted in accordance with the party’s rules and monitored and certified by INEC, arguing that the process made him the legitimate nominee of the party for the constituency.

According to him, the situation changed after the NDC leadership allegedly replaced his name with Sanni’s despite his victory at the primary.

Pratt described the alleged substitution as an unjustified action that effectively overturned the decision of the delegates and deprived him of what he called his “democratic mandate.”

He argued that the move not only undermined the outcome of the primary but also denied his supporters and constituents the opportunity to have their preferred candidate represented in the election.

The claimant is therefore urging the court to intervene and restore his name to the ballot, insisting that allowing the alleged substitution to stand would legitimise a breach of the electoral process and undermine the rights of delegates who participated in the primary.

The suit now places both INEC and the NDC before the court as the claimant seeks judicial intervention to determine who should lawfully represent the party in the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency election.